Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi

Kochi, Mar 27: Indian football was hit by fresh controversy ahead of the AFC Asian Cup qualifier, as head coach Khalid Jamil and three players were denied entry into the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi due to a payment dispute.

The incident occurred when the Indian team arrived for a scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of their clash against Hong Kong national football team. Along with Jamil, players Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Bijoy Varghese were stopped at the gates by security personnel of the Greater Cochin Development Authority.

Officials cited pending payments as the reason for denying entry, forcing the coach and players to wait outside before eventually leaving. Journalists were also denied access as the stadium gates remained shut, disrupting scheduled media interactions.

Navas Meeran, president of the Kerala Football Association, termed the episode a “minor technical issue” and assured that the match would proceed as planned.

“The Asian Cup qualifier will go ahead as scheduled. What happened was a minor issue and will be resolved soon,” he said.

Reports indicate that the GCDA demanded a security deposit of Rs 20–25 lakh along with Rs 3 lakh as rent. However, the KFA reportedly sought additional time to settle the dues, leading to the standoff.

The incident has drawn criticism as it comes ahead of India’s return to Kochi after nearly a decade, with their last appearance at the venue dating back to 2016.

This is not the first such episode involving the stadium. Earlier, players of Kerala Blasters FC were also denied entry before a match due to a similar dispute.

The stadium is owned by the GCDA, while matches are organised by the KFA, and recurring disagreements over payments have highlighted coordination issues between the two bodies.

Despite the controversy, India are scheduled to face Hong Kong on March 31, with officials hopeful of resolving the matter before the match.